The ambient temperature has been getting a little cooler on occasion, while the water temperature remains tolerable at the beach.
The Brown Pelican (plastic wrap, CS5) above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The two on the cold side are not a good mix for wildlife observations while in the water. This week allowed some interesting action seen at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve. I missed meeting up with Andreas Hemb and
Frank Constantin as hoped while I was in much need of rest. At the next opportunity to make observations, I met up with Frank. Although the tide was very low which allows the birds to have a much greater area to roam, the birds seen were interesting at the west channel. This follow-up day for Frank, I think, was an improvement for him. Images presented here allow differentiation of similar looking species.
The Little Blue Heron with juvenile above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Caspian Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Osprey above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The first and last images in this article were not acceptable from a focus standpoint primarily, and were enhanced using editing tools in Photoshop's CS5. Forgetting what can be done with this software, I regret deleting many images I had captured pre-sunrise and before Frank arrived. While the feeding of worms by the shorebirds was entertaining as always, the most intriguing observation was the behavior of a pair of Great Blue Heron. Upward stretched heads and necks were seen on a few occasions. The birds never got very close to each other while a mating event was not to be. It is not known exactly where the Great Blue Heron nests, otherwise almost always seen foraging or resting at Bunche. Within Bunche's protected habitat, an observer at one of the highrise buildings nearby may offer an answer.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The observation of a banded Dunlin photographed this week has been
reported to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. I may have to wait upwards of four weeks to find out where the Dunlin was born. The shorebirds were much more distant than I would like. I was able to identify the letters on the light green flag as TJU while the bird sported a yellow band on its upper right leg with a metal band on its lower right as well. Reading the ingredients on a can of soup, I have sometimes seen that the chicken within it was
mechanically separated. That food processing technique is not anything like I originally thought when contemplating how much more turkey would have come off the bones this week at the dinner table.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The banded Red Knot above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
The Little Blue Heron with juvenile (glowing edges, CS5) above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2012.
Thanks to
Seagull Steve for ID correction.
